This week has been pretty long and mind draining. We jumped into staff training on Monday morning and did two sessions almost every day, though Monday afternoon we were able to go to local pool. The view from the pool was brilliant and we were able to look over most of Blantyre even though we weren’t that high in the mountain. During our staff training sessions we talked about the different things we are looking to get out of the DTS and also the things we want the students to get out of it. To sum it up in one sentence, we all want to experience God in a new way and be able to indulge in His Spirit daily. We also talked about the diversity within us as staff, the students and the people we will meet during outreaches. Though we are all different (at the time being four different nationalities at the table) we are all here in this place for the main goals. One of the things we all mentioned with this topic of all being different nationalities is the idea of the language barrier (though most people can speak fairly good English) and the different ways that cultures interacts with one another. Things that are very typical back home in Canada could be very offensive to some people. My piercings (and tattoo though most people don’t know I have it) have caused some talk. The Malawians think that Christians can’t have piercings or tattoos. Some people have asked if I got them before I became a Christian and just never took them out. My hope is that no one takes offensive to them at all and thinks wrong things about me, or about God. It won’t make me too happy but the thought of taking them out has crossed my mind and might come up more if I end up in the village later on. I’m sure this idea pleases my parents though.
One of the best things about this week was that on Thursday night we finally got some more people on the base. Anna and Andy who are taking the DTS but also have been here for a while and will be once the DTS is over were out in Lilongwe (northern Malawi) picking up some friends from home and then taking them out for a village outreach. It was amazing to talk to them and see God’s hand at work through the people of the base. There in a mostly Muslim area of Malawi and God really worked with having roughly 120 people say that they wanted to connect with the local church in that area. They also say many healings including a blind lady given site again. God is truly at work here in Malawi.
Now the other great thing about the week was the two wonderful visitors that Anna and Andy have from the UK. They are two people from their church back in the UK and wanted to come see Malawi and take some time off before starting university soon. It’s so great to have some young people my age on the base even for a short time. The first night they were here we just sat up and talked about music and different parts of life. It’s great to just talk about unnecessary parts of life sometimes. But the great part is talking to them about different parts of faith that all three of us struggle with at times. Rosie and Louis are great to have on the base and I will definitely be heading to the UK some time to visit them. I’ve had some great talks with each one of them, even bringing up facts from a book that Rosie’s dad researched.
Saturday some of guys (myself, Andy, Louis, Don) heading to the local market to buy some bread and other little items and it was amazing to see Don, a real man of God, jump into ministry right away. An older man came to talk to us, as usually happens, and Don suddenly jumped into talking about God and church. I can tell I haven’t been around much of that lately as it still isn’t my first reaction when meeting people, though I want it to be. We talked with him for a while and got to pray and lay hands on him for wisdom and just for general God’s blessing upon his life. It was really amazing to see that God was among us even in the times when we didn’t really expect Him to be. Which really reminds of today’s sermon that we heard at the local, mostly English, church. The sermon was basically on the matter of that we need to expect change, to expect God to act when we ask for something. They told a story about some farmers who were praying for a rain during a year long drought. Someone came up to them asked them what they were doing and they explained the situation and the man just mocked them. They asked the mocker what he would do during the time of drought. The man said that he would be praying as well, but would bring an umbrella with him. Just explaining that when we pray we need to expect God to act upon our prayers. So often we pray and move on right away not expecting to see results, due to lack of trust in the power of God. I know that I have done this so much over the last year. I tend to think that God’s presence is here in Africa and not back home in Canada so I don’t expect to see His hand at work when I pray in Canada. It’s amazing to see that God is already teaching me things for later on in life though my mission here has barely even started. God is surely at work in amazing ways and I’m excited to see what else He has in store for me, but also for those around me that I get to be part. My prayer is that you will also experience God in new and amazing ways. That He reaches out and shows you Love through small acts that just make you cry out in love for Him.
Prayer requests for the week to come:
Rosie and Louis as they head home on Thursday, but also that they are both feeling pretty ill at the moment.
We have a brilliant speaker this week and next named Kobus, so just pray that his words will be God’s words and that our hearts and minds are open to what he has to say
We are planning to stay at the base for a while longer, but the landlord has said that the rent will go up. Though he hasn’t said by how much, so pray that it is very little and that God will provide funds.
We are still figuring out last minute things for some students so pray that God will bring all those that are supposed to be here get here safely.
There is also one big prayer requests for me, I’m still not fully here in Africa mind why’s of course. I’ve still been thinking about home a lot (though I’m not home sick at all). But also already thinking about what’s next for my life as I am totally uncertain at the moment. But it’s been a distraction this fair and I really just want to be able to focus on what is going on here and what God has for this time of my life no matter how long it may be.
All your prayers and thoughts are so precious to me and I thank you will my whole heart for reading and following the blog. Sorry that it is long and rambles on at times.
